this is like one of the best movies its hilarious but dont hav booys in the house because they like 2 mimike it
What a Girl Wants
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Overly cute, but great for its intended audience.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of What a Girl Wants was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie has some brief strong language, including a reference to a dog that bit a man's testicle and an ugly insult (from a villain) about a character's mixed race heritage. The family issues, including the Parent Trap problem of having a child bring her estranged parents together, may be difficult for some children.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the way Daphne tried to "fit in" and whether Henry was doing the same. What were the most important things Daphne and Henry learned from each other? They should also Henry's decision to change direction and what the impact is likely to be.
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More on What a Girl Wants
What’s the Story?
WHAT A GIRL WANTS stars Amanda Bynes as Daphne Reynolds, the spirited daughter of a wedding singer and single mom named Libby (Kelly Preston). Daphne has always dreamed of meeting her father, but her parents split up before he even knew she was going to be born, and he doesn't know anything about her. After she graduates from high school, she hops on a plane and shows up at his house. Except it isn't exactly a house -- it's a mansion. It turns out her father is Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), who has just given up his hereditary seat in the House of Lords to stand for office (they say "stand" instead of run in England) just like a commoner. He is engaged to a horrible social-climbing monster named Glynnis (Anna Chancellor) with a snooty teen-age daughter. Daphne is a breath of fresh air and both she and Henry learn a lot about themselves as they learn about each other.
Is It Any Good?
What a Girl Wants is not just a fairy tale -- it is a full-out fantasy straight from the heart of all young girls and former young girls who really really love their daddies. It may feel to other people like an adorableness overdose, but its intended audience will enjoy it very much. Bynes is a gifted comedienne, but she doesn't get a chance to show off what she does best in this movie. But she has a fresh and engaging presence and some able and charismatic support from classically trained stage actors Firth, Eileen Atkins, and Jonathan Pryce. The love interest, played by Ian Williams, should be high on the Teen Beat hearthrob list.
The movie feels too long because it is more like a string of unconnected sit-com episodes, each one signaling its conclusion the moment it starts. Each incident fails to build on or even be reflected in the one that comes next. It has a pre-packaged feel, leaving absolutely nothing to chance, not even the possibility that there might be some eight-year-old who has never seen a movie before and might not know that the bad guys are really bad unless they engage in the most idiotically outrageous (and self-defeating) behavior. The climactic, Cinderella-ish conclusion to the big coming-out ball makes Daphne seem inconsistent and immature. And the climactic decision by Henry makes him seem irresponsible and immature.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Dennie Gordon
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 4/4/2003, DVD release: 8/5/2003
MPAA Rating: PG for mild language
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 4/4/2003, DVD release: 8/5/2003
MPAA Rating: PG for mild language
Our Members Say
See 15 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
for tweens and teens
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
WATCH!
I ADORE THIS MOVIE! saw it in 1st grade with my mom and LOVED IT!
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
watch the movie and them talk
the movie has the best parts that anyother movie would have about a father and daughter finding each other and it's cute what amanda does to win her fathers heart and also in the movie amanda has the most hottest and cuttest boyfriend. i just love the movie i brought it ever seens it was out i always watch it it's Beautiful and i thank the director of the movie and i always wish for part 2...... i'm hoping love you
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
not much of a plot
kinda dumb without a developed plot. but i like Amanda Bynes a lot so she made it a lot better
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